Flexible Container Chutes for Sortation Systems

1. An item sorting system comprising: an induction portion at which a first item is inducted into the item sorting system; a shuttle configured to transport the first item from the induction portion of the item sorting system; a support frame that forms a path through which the shuttle is configured to move, wherein the path is an internal path through the item sorting system; a first chute assembly coupled to the item sorting system, the first chute assembly comprising: a first ramp angled in a downward direction relative to the item sorting machine; a second ramp angled in the downward direction; a third ramp angled in the downward direction; a first vertical separator component coupled to the second ramp; a second vertical separator component coupled to an end of the second ramp; a third vertical separator component coupled to the third ramp; and a fourth vertical separator component coupled to an end of the third ramp; a first flexible container configured to receive items via the first ramp; a second flexible container configured to receive items via the second ramp; and a third flexible container configured to receive items via the third ramp.

2. The item sorting system of claim 1 , further comprising: a moveable cart comprising a first flexible container slot, a second flexible container slot, and a third flexible container slot; wherein the first flexible container is disposed in the first flexible container slot, the second first flexible container is disposed in the second first flexible container slot, and the third first flexible container is disposed in the third first flexible container slot.

3. The item sorting system of claim 2 , wherein the first flexible container, the second flexible container, and the third flexible container comprise zipper openings and can be individually removed from the moveable cart.

4. The item sorting system of claim 2 , wherein the moveable cart is detached from the item sorting system and is configured to roll from a first position under the first chute assembly to a second position away from the first chute assembly.

5. An item sorting system comprising: a first extendable arm; a second extendable arm; a first flexible container removably coupled to the first extendable arm and the second extendable arm; a second flexible container removably coupled to the first extendable arm and the second extendable arm; and a chute assembly comprising: a first ramp; a first separator coupled to a first end of the first ramp; a second ramp; a second separator coupled to a second end of the second ramp; wherein the first ramp and the second ramp are vertically aligned, and wherein the first flexible container receives items via the first ramp, and the second flexible container receives items via the second ramp.

6. The item sorting system of claim 5 , further comprising: a shuttle configured to transport items from an induction portion of the system to the chute assembly.

7. The item sorting system of claim 5 , wherein the first ramp is angled with respect to the first separator, and the second ramp is angled with respect to the second separator, and wherein the first separator separates the first flexible container from the second flexible container.

8. The item sorting system of claim 5 , wherein the chute assembly further comprises: a third separator coupled to the first ramp, wherein the third separator has a greater length than the first separator; and a fourth separator coupled to the second ramp, wherein the fourth separator has a greater length than the second separator.

9. The item sorting system of claim 5 , wherein the first extendable arm and the second extendable arm are disposed at a first side of the item sorting system, the item sorting system further comprising: a third extendable arm; and a fourth extendable arm, wherein the third extendable arm and the fourth extendable arm are disposed at a second side of the item sorting system.

10. The item sorting system of claim 5 , further comprising: a third flexible container; and a third extendable arm; wherein the third flexible container is removably coupled to the second extendable arm and the third extendable arm.

11. The item sorting system of claim 10 , wherein the chute assembly is a first chute assembly, the item sorting system further comprising: a second chute assembly disposed adjacent to the first chute assembly, wherein the third flexible container receives items via the second chute assembly.

12. The item sorting system of claim 5 , wherein the first flexible container and the second flexible container move with the first extendable arm and the second extendable arm when the first extendable arm and the second extendable arm are moved to an extended position.

13. The item sorting system of claim 5 , wherein the first extendable arm and the second extendable arm are configured to support an upper portion of the first flexible container in an open position.

14. The item sorting system of claim 5 , further comprising: a floor disposed between the first extendable arm and the second extendable arm, wherein the floor supports a lower portion of the first flexible container.

15. The item sorting system of claim 5 , further comprising: a conveyor belt disposed under the first flexible container and the second flexible container, and configured to transport flexible containers from the item sorting system.

16. The item sorting system of claim 5 , wherein the item sorting system is configured to singulate items from a tote comprising a plurality of items into the first flexible container or the second flexible container.

17. A modular item sorting machine comprising: a pair of extendable arms; a plurality of flexible containers removably coupled to the pair of extendable arms; a chute assembly comprising a plurality of ramps used to deposit items into one or more of the plurality of flexible containers; and a shuttle configured to sort items inducted into the modular item sorting machine into one or more of the plurality of flexible containers.

18. The modular item sorting machine of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of ramps are vertically aligned, and wherein the chute assembly comprises vertical separator components disposed at ends of the respective ramps of the plurality of ramps.

19. The modular item sorting machine of claim 17 , further comprising: a conveyor belt disposed under the plurality of flexible containers and configured to transport flexible containers from the modular item sorting system.

20. The modular item sorting machine of claim 17 , further comprising: a floor disposed between the pair of extendable arms, wherein the floor supports lower portions of the plurality of flexible containers.